Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild in Philadelphia: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney liner & rebuild in Philadelphia, and most jobs are completed in a single visit with upfront pricing that matches the final invoice. A typical Famco stainless steel liner replacement runs $2,800-$4,200, while a partial chimney rebuild with new Famco liner starts around $4,500. We’re Hearthstone Chimney Co. of Philadelphia, and we’ve been working on Philadelphia chimneys since 1984.
This page is for the homeowner who knows they have a Famco liner or Famco-compatible system, suspects it’s failing, and wants a straight answer on whether it can be repaired or needs replacement. If that’s you, call (866) 580-4069. A live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco FLX flexible liners in rowhouse flues. The FLX series handles Philadelphia’s narrow, offset chimney flues well, but we’ve seen premature corrosion where the liner sits below the water table in basement-started flues in neighborhoods like Fishtown and Kensington. Moisture wicks up through porous brick, pools at the liner’s lowest bend, and pinholes form from the outside in. We pull the damaged section, inspect the full run with our camera, and replace with either OEM Famco FLX or DuraFlex Pro if the flue geometry demands tighter flexibility.
- Famco rigid stainless collars and storm collar separations. The rigid collar system on older Famco installs, common in 1980s and 1990s Mount Airy and West Oak Lane homes, was originally sealed with a non-silicone compound that turns brittle after 15-20 Philadelphia freeze-thaw cycles. Water runs behind the collar, saturates the crown, and accelerates liner failure from the top down. We remove the collar, reseat with high-temp silicone rated for 600°F continuous, and replace the liner if creosote intrusion has already compromised it.
- Famco Heat-Fab compatible snap-lock adapters. Homeowners sometimes don’t realize their “Famco” system uses a Heat-Fab snap-lock adapter at the appliance connection. These adapters work loose from thermal cycling in high-efficiency gas inserts, especially in Center City condos where the appliance runs short, frequent cycles. We find the gap with a smoke test, reseat or replace the adapter, and verify with a draft gauge - not a guess.
- Famco chimney caps with integrated spark arrestors on rebuild jobs. When we’re doing a partial rebuild on a Philadelphia twin or rowhouse, the Famco cap with integrated spark arrestor often can’t be salvaged. The mesh corrodes at the weld points first, a pattern we see more in Philadelphia than in drier climates because of acid rain frequency. We source the correct replacement cap by model year, or spec a Gelco equivalent if Famco has discontinued that diameter.
- Famco transition plates in coal-to-gas conversions. In older Northeast Philadelphia homes, we still encounter Famco transition plates installed during 1970s and 1980s coal-to-gas conversions. The plate seals the old coal flue and adapts to a smaller gas liner, but the plate itself can crack from decades of thermal stress. We document the crack with photos, explain whether the plate can be welded or must be replaced, and never charge for a full rebuild when a plate swap solves it.
Our Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Process
- 1
Call and schedule. You call (866) 580-4069, a live person answers, and we book a time that works. Most Famco jobs in Philadelphia get scheduled within 48 hours.
- 2
Level-2 camera inspection. Our technician runs a camera the full length of your flue, photographs every joint, offset, and defect, and gives you a plain-English verdict on the spot. You see what we see.
- 3
Parts decision: OEM Famco or quality equivalent. If your liner is a current Famco model and warranty coverage applies, we source OEM. If Famco has discontinued the line or an aftermarket solution like DuraFlex or HeatShield offers better longevity for your specific flue, we explain the trade-off and let you decide. No pressure.
- 4
The repair or rebuild. Background-checked, uniformed technicians complete the work in one visit when possible. For a full chimney rebuild, we may need a second day for proper mortar cure before liner installation.
- 5
Post-repair testing. We run a smoke test and draft measurement to confirm the system draws correctly. The numbers go in your report.
- 6
Cleanup, documentation, and guarantee. We leave the work area clean, hand you photos and a written summary, and the job is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing.
What Famco Chimney Liner & Rebuild Costs in Philadelphia
| Job Type | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco liner repair (patch, collar, or adapter) | $450-$890 | Height of chimney, accessibility, whether parts are current or discontinued |
| Famco stainless steel liner replacement | $2,800-$4,200 | Flue length, diameter, number of offsets, insulation requirements |
| Famco liner + partial chimney rebuild | $4,500-$7,800 | Courses of brick to replace, crown condition, need for scaffolding |
| Full chimney rebuild with new Famco liner | $8,500-$14,000 | Chimney height, location on roof line, permit requirements |
These are Philadelphia market ranges based on what we’ve billed over the past three years. Your exact price comes after inspection, not before. Estimates are free, and the number we give is the number on the invoice. Call (866) 580-4069 to schedule.
Why Philadelphia Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. of Philadelphia for Famco Work
Carl Bridwell started this company in 1984, and we’ve learned that Famco owners in Philadelphia want two things: someone who recognizes their system without a learning curve, and a price that doesn’t balloon once work begins. Our technicians carry Famco, DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco parts on the truck, so we’re not ordering after we arrive. The 90-Day Done Right Promise means if it’s not right, we come back - no paperwork, no arguing. And because we’ve been in Philadelphia for over 42 years, we know which neighborhoods have narrow flues, which have water table issues, and which building codes apply. If it’s worth burning wood in, it’s worth knowing what’s above it.
FAQs
No, if the work is done correctly and documented. As an independent Famco service provider, we use OEM parts when your liner is still under warranty and document the repair with photos and serial numbers so your coverage stays intact. Using non-Famco parts on a warranted liner can void coverage, which is why we check first. Call (866) 580-4069 and we’ll verify your warranty status before we start.
For current Famco models, we typically have parts within 24-48 hours through our Philadelphia-area distributors. For discontinued Famco lines, we stock quality equivalents from DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco that match or exceed original specs. Most Famco jobs are still completed in a single visit because we carry common sizes on the truck.
Repair is cheaper when the damage is localized - a cracked collar, loose adapter, or single pinhole section. Replacement becomes the better value when corrosion is widespread, the liner is past 20 years, or multiple repairs would cost more than half the price of a new system. We show you the camera footage and give both numbers so you can decide.
Yes, and we do it regularly. Famco liners interface cleanly with HeatShield and DuraFlex components when the diameter and insulation rating match. We never mix brands in ways that compromise draft safety or local code compliance. The connection points are documented in your written report.
We answer calls live 24 hours a day, and we schedule Famco inspections within 48 hours for non-emergencies. For active water intrusion, liner collapse, or blocked flue conditions, we prioritize same-day or next-day response. Call (866) 580-4069 - a real person will pick up and find you the first available slot.
Written by Carl Bridwell, Owner & Master Sweep, Hearthstone Chimney Co. of Philadelphia at Hearthstone Chimney Co. of Philadelphia, serving Philadelphia and nearby areas.